Biological Sample Preparation Using Shaken Bead Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample preparation techniques for biological samples in bacteriological analysis face challenges such as contamination risks due to mechanical coupling issues, complex sterilization processes, and difficulties in achieving homogeneity and sterility, particularly when using containers made of multiple plastics and requiring additional scrubbing operations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a container with beads that is sealed and shaken to separate the sample from a support, using a shaker to generate non-rotating movements that cause impacts and mixing, thereby fragmenting and homogenizing the sample without the need for direct mechanical contact or complex sterilization processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a stirring element is integrated into the container and driven from the outside, then sample homogenization is achieved, but sealing problems and contamination risks occur due to mechanical coupling between inside and outside of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring function is extracted from an external mechanical drive system and transferred to internal beads that are shaken by moving the entire container. This eliminates the need for mechanical coupling through the container wall, thereby resolving the sealing problem while maintaining the homogenization function.
Solution Approach 2:
The beads act as an intermediary medium between the external shaking motion and the sample material. The beads receive kinetic energy from the shaken container and transfer it to the sample through collisions, achieving homogenization without requiring direct mechanical contact between external drives and internal sample.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical grinding tools are used to prepare samples, then sample preparation is achieved, but sterilization and cleaning complexity increase to prevent contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The container with integrated beads is designed as a disposable single-use unit. After one sample preparation, the entire container is discarded rather than sterilized and reused. This eliminates the complex sterilization and cleaning processes while maintaining sample preparation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The container, stirring beads, and sample holder are merged into a single integrated disposable unit. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sterilization of multiple components and simplifies the overall process while ensuring contamination-free sample preparation.
3Productivity
If additional scouring operations are performed on solid material, then sample extraction is improved, but sterility and sealing conditions become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The beads are pre-loaded into the sealed container before the sample is added. The container is then sealed to maintain sterility. The scouring action occurs automatically when the container is shaken, eliminating the need for separate post-sterilization scouring operations that would compromise the sealed environment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces contamination risks, simplifies sterilization, and ensures sample homogeneity, allowing for effective extraction and culture of biological samples while maintaining sample viability for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
the container is shaken so as to set the balls in motion and thus cause shocks on the support so as to separate the sample from the support
Implementation Method 2
the container is shaken in a non-rotating motion... The movement may include at least one combination of movements from the following combinations: a combination of alternative translations having successive directions two by two forming an angle greater than 10°; and a combination of at least one translation and at least one rotation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method for preparing biological samples for bacteriological analysis, in which - a support (5) carrying a biological sample (4) is placed in a container (1) containing beads (3), - the container (1) is sealed tightly, - the container (1) in which the sample (4) and the beads (3) are placed is shaken so as to move the beads (3) and thus cause shocks on the support (5) so as to separate the sample (4) from the support (5).